Shoe-tree



' Sein. 25, 1923.`

H. A. BALLARD SHOE TREE Filed Dec. 22, 1921 jnwemor y Patented Sept.. 25, 1923,

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MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, TEASSEHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF MAINE.

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Application filed December 22, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Hamam A. BALLARD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Trees, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoe'trees and is particularly concerned with the construc- Ition by which the effective length of the tree may be adjusted and the construction by which it may be expanded or contracted to operative or inoperative condition with relation to a shoe.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference maybe had to the accompanying drawings in which Y Figure 1 is a plan partly broken away of the tree.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1, but showing the manner of adjusting the length of the tree.

Referring to these drawings at 1 is indicated a toe piece formed substantially in the shape of the forward portion of a last. This toe portion is cut away at its under side as shown at 3 in dotted lines in Figure 2 and is recessed at its rear end at 4f, these por-- tions forming together a socket as shown at 5 in Figure 1 at one side of the center of the toe piece. This socket is eccentrically disposed in order to provide for right and left shoes, the line between the toe and heel of the shoe being nearer to the inner side of the foot than on the outer side. 'If desired, however, this socket could be placed centrally of the width of the toe piece in order that the sameptree might be used for both right and left shoes. socket 5 are fixed rearwardly 'extending spring arms 6 arrangedin opposed relation. As shown these arms maybe fixed in position by dowel pins 7 extending from one side to the other of the toe piece bridging the recess 5 and passing` through perforations in the arms 6. Near the rear ends of these arms are positioned opposed inwardly projecting pins 8 which are adapted to engage selectively in any one of a series of perforations or openings 9 arranged longitudinally adjacent the front end of a heel 0n either side of the Serial No. 524,115.

piece 10. rlvhe openings 9 are of sufli ciently larger diameter than the pins 8 to form therewith a hinge connection for the heel piece so that it may move in a vertical plane toward and from the sole of a shoe in which the tree is placed. The rear end of the heel piece 10 is'curved at 11 to engage the inner face of the heel of a shoe and its lower' face is preferably curved as shown at eov 12 to furnish a handle portion which ma?,Y

be grasped in order to swing the. heel piece upwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, out of engagement with the shoe heel so that the tree may be removed from the shoe.

The spring arm 6 engaging on either side of the h-eel piece normally prevents lateral motion thereof but by forcibly inclining the heel piece laterally, as shown in Figure 3, these jaws may be sprung apart, and the pins 8 moved from engagement with one of the openings 9 whereupon the heel piece may be adjusted lengthwise relative thereto to bring the pins l8 into engagement with a different opening. By this means the effective length of the tree may be adjusted to suit different sizes of shoe and when properly adjusted. by setting the toe piece in the toe portion of the shoe and rocking the heel piece 10 downwardly intovthe heel, the tree f may be positioned for retaining the shoe in this invention 1t should be evidentthat many changes and modifications might ber made therein without departing from its;

spirit or scope'as defined by th-e appended claims.

I claim: j

1. A shoe tree comprising a toe piece, a pair` of spaced resilient arms connected at their forward ends rigidly to said toe piece and extending rearwardly therefrom, a pair of oppositely disposed pins projecting inwardly from said arms toward their rear,V

ends, and a heel piece having its forward end extending between said arms and having a series of lateral perforations in any Vsaid pins may selectively eny of which gage, the rear end of saidheel piece being curved to fit within the heel end of a shoe and upwardly arched to form a handle by 2. A shoe, tree *Comprisingl aotoe. piece,v a

- pair of spaced resilient arms Connectednt their forward ends rigidly to said toe piece and extending rearwardly therefrom, aV

pair of oppositely disposed pins projecting inwardly from said arms toward their rear ends, and a heel piece having its forward end extending between said arms and havingpa series of lateral.. perforations in any of which said pins may selectively' engage. In `testimony whereof I have afxed my signature.

HARRIE" A- BLLLARU; 

